"THE HUMMINGBIRD CUPS"

(I wrote this for my two sisters Virginia Ann and Linda Sue, and our momma Helen Galloway Christmas 2008; and gave each a porcelain hummingbird cup from a matching set of four).

We are a family of four, but are a part of so much more. I'm just one little porcelain Hummingbird cup. I began as a piece of clay, but my maker created me as he created each of you to be His most precious work. He formed us and shaped us so that He could do wonderful things through us for His good pleasure. He painted the beautiful flowers and the Hummingbirds to bring Joy to you and Joy to me as we prepare for each and every day; to let us know that when things are going bad, or just on those days when we may be feeling sad, or when we are just "there" sitting all alone, gazing at the stillness as we sit in God's presence, in awesome wonder of things not understood.

As you sup from your Hummingbird cup, enjoying your morning brew, just think of me and the other two. Think of all the good times and pray for all of us, even though we aren't all four together each day, we can always be together in thoughts of our hearts. It is "the thoughts" that count! Thoughts are the beginning of words we speak out. So say a prayer for me and for the other two.

As you sup from your Hummingbird cup, enjoying your morning brew. We will be praying for you and for each other, a prayer of agreement (Matthew 18:18-20) for our "brothers," even though we are daughters, sisters, and mother. Nothing is greater than praying to "Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, in earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: for thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. In Jesus' name, AMEN." (Matthew 6:9-13).

"For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." (Matthew 6:14-15).

Prayers touch hearts by the Spirit of God, so as you pray, you will know that the other three are also praying too; as we start our day before getting busy doing all our chores and work, or getting dizzy or even in a tizzy, or going here and over there! We can keep those thoughts and prayers deep inside our hearts as we pray without ceasing, as we go about our day. This is our way to keep in touch by His Holy Spirit. God loves us so very much that He gave His only begotten Son, so we could be His sons and daughters, to be loved by Him and through Him LOVE others.

So as you sup from this Hummingbird cup enjoying your morning brew, know that I do love you very much too! And so do the other two! As we three and you make four, who are a part of so very much more. Our prayers are threads that hold us together woven in this tapestry of life as we love one another as God works through us and pieces it all together. To give us JOY in our cup for each and every day.

Sometimes we must look deep inside to find His JOY, that has been there all the time, buried under thoughts going all through our minds. Right there with His peace that surpasses all understanding, waiting for us to be quiet and to be still. Lord give us wisdom as we seek you today. Thank you Lord for my sisters and my mother and for every blessing they have been and are to me. Bless them today because I love them dearly. Give them strength when they are weary. Give them Hope when they have none; and help them endure until in Heaven we are all one. In Jesus' name, AMEN.

As you sup from this Hummingbird cup, enjoying your morning brew ..... take a moment to savor God's LOVE and His JOY, and count all the blessings He has given you.

ASK, SEEK, and KNOCK: (Matthew 7:7-8) "Ask and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened."

(Matthew 6:33) ....."But seek ye FIRST the Kingdom of GOD, and His righteousness; and ALL THESE THINGS shall be added unto you."

Think on "things" of GOD today: He takes care of our today.....and tomorrow will be today when we get there......and He has already taken care of tomorrow too! And one great day we will all be in Heaven as a great big family with HIM. Oh what a day that one will be!

........... written for each of you because I LOVE you dearly!
............ your daughter, your sister, your sister in Christ

................. Sharron Kay (Gray) Atkinson, @byWords
.........IN GOD I TRUST
.....December 23, 2008

In Celebration of the Spirit of Christmas.......May God's LOVE shine on you and through you always! Preserve me Oh God; For in thee do I put my trust. (Psalm 16:1).

Remember to pass-on your Hummingbird cup to someone following after you; as this is the start of a new family tradition, and one day four others will tell about the JOY found deep in their hearts, pondered and prayed for while sipping a brew from one of these four Hummingbird cups.

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